In the Apostle Paul’s many letters to the early churches, he writes of his constant prayers for them and encourages them to be in continual, earnest, persistent prayer. He said in Ephesians 6:18 to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” He wrote in Romans 12:12, that we are to be “continuing instant in prayer.” Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” He said in Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch (refuse to be distracted) in the same with thanksgiving.”

Paul prayed that way himself. In I Thessalonians 3:10, he told those precious believers that he was both “night and day praying exceedingly” for them. In Colossians 4:12, he describes Epaphras who was “always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” I could go on and on with more examples. Almost all of Paul’s letters contain his prayers for those precious believers in the local churches.

As I said earlier, the Apostle James was called “camel knees” because of His devotion to earnest prayer. James 5:16 says, “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Jesus taught persistent prayer and modeled it in His own life. Paul taught persistent prayer and modeled it too. A growing, maturing Christian is one who is learning to be persistent, earnest and determined in his prayers to the Lord. He doesn’t give up. He stays “on line.” Like Epaphras, he labors in prayer understanding that he is heard by an all-knowing, compassionate Father. Do you ever labor in prayer?